Our Mission and Beliefs

We guide students to develop the capacity, knowledge, and social awareness to be actively engaged in their communities.

The mission of School for Community Learning is to discover, recognized and nurture the talents and gifts of each child, graduation students with the capacity, knowledge and social awareness to be actively engages in their communities.

  • We know our students well and tailor our approach to meet their aspirations and needs.

  • We help students achieve success by encouraging curiosity, investigation, and critical thinking

  • We strive to end the statistically predictive barriers that race, gender, and special capabilities have on student success and engagement

  • We teach through a lens of interconnectedness helping students know themselves, others, and the world around them

  • We recognize and honor the diverse histories and experiences of students, families, and the broader school community

  • We value kindness, honesty, and trustworthiness as necessary building blocks of character

Sustainability at SCL

Our sustainability curriculum is based on the work of Shelburne Farms’ Sustainable Schools Program and provides students with a curriculum that links knowledge, inquiry, and action while helping them build a healthy future for their communities and the planet.

On an average day at SCL, you might observe middle school students researching ways to reduce waste in our oceans, second graders pulling weeds in our gardens, and kindergartners preparing kale chips. These lessons help students develop their own understanding of the web of connections that make up their community and their roles in it. Students’ personal appreciation and experience of interdependence give them the foundation for understanding and supporting global decision-making in the future.

Partners

  • Earth Charter Indiana

    Earth Charter teaches children to be environmental advocates. Our educators work alongside their team to coordinate field trips that enrich our sustainability-oriented curriculum. We also participate in their Eco-Science Challenge each Spring.

  • Butler University

    Butler University’s music program provides after-school lessons to our students at a discounted rate. Research shows that music makes us better communicators, boosts our immune systems, and makes us smarter, in addition to just being fun!

  • Second Helpings

    Second Helpings delivers lunch items to our school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They prevent edible foods from becoming food waste by distributing sandwiches, granola bars, and fruit to churches, community centers, and schools.

  • Sustainable Schools Project

    We utilize Shelburne Farms’ Sustainable Schools Project to orient our sustainability curriculum. They believe that educators and students are leaders in creating change toward a healthier and more just world.

  • White Pine Wilderness Academy

    White Pine Wilderness Academy teaches outdoor efficacy and offers the opportunity for our students to further develop a wholesome relationship with nature.

  • Efroymson Family Fund

    The Efroymson Family Fund is a CICF fund that provides financial support to a wide array of issues including arts and culture, historic preservation, and the environment.